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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Sunday marks three years since the June 1st tornado devastated sections of Springfield’s Six Corners-Maple High neighborhood.

New houses are under construction to replace homes damaged on Central Street.

Crystal Rivera had just purchased her home one week before the tornado. Seeing the new housing along Central Street gives her more confidence in the neighborhood’s future.

“It makes me feel great. Especially being a mother of three children, I want to be in a neighborhood that has more homes. Knowing that they’re working class families and they want to make this neighborhood better,” said Rivera.

The neighborhood improvement group “Develop Springfield” shares her optimism. They’ve purchased nearby land in hopes a developer will build even more homes.

“Develop Springfield” vision for the neighborhood includes clusters of new homes and the new Elias Brookings Elementary School. The tornado also damaged and closed the old Brookings school.